Every Vikings RD1 QB in Franchise History

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Apr 25, 2024
NFL: Preseason-Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings
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Since 1961, the Vikings have been trying to win the Super Bowl, an ambition that has been unsuccessful. Will a Vikings RD1 QB from the 2024 NFL Draft help to finally end the curse?

The Vikings have only sunk four 1st-round picks into the game’s most important position. For a while, the QB position didn’t carry such a disproportionate power over the outcome of a game, but even with the historical caveat it’s a wildly low number. Does the total get pushed to five later today?

Every Vikings RD1 QB in Franchise History

A whopping 63 years stand between 2024 and 1961. Over those decades, the Vikings have spent no shortage of time trying to fully nail down the quarterback position, and a part of that has involved dipping into the draft for promising passers.

Sep 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) acknowledges the crowd after beating the Atlanta Falcons at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Consider every RD1 QB whom the Vikings have chosen:

  • 1977: Tommy Kramer, 27th
  • 1999: Daunte Culpepper, 11th
  • 2011: Christian Ponder, 12th
  • 2014: Teddy Bridgewater, 32nd

Folks, I’ll admit it: I expected more names to be included.

Undoubtedly, the greatest QB in franchise history is Fran Tarkenton. He got added in the 1961 NFL Draft as the 29th pick. At that time, Tarkenton arrived as a 3rd-round selection.

Jan 13, 1974; Houston, TX, USA; FILE PHOTO; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton (10) and running back Oscar Reed (32) in action against the Miami Dolphins during Super Bowl VIII at Rice Stadium. Miami defeated Minnesota 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports

Stunningly, the highest Minnesota has gone for a quarterback is 11th overall. If the Vikings stick with their original picks in the opening round – No. 11 and No. 23 – then Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can match a franchise record for highest pick used on a QB. Turning the eleventh into someone like J.J. McCarthy would mean Daunte Culpepper has some company for the top spot.

But then the outcome most are expecting is a trade up the board. As Vikings Territory’s Dustin Baker has mentioned at various points in the draft leadup, the Vikings have never chosen a top-10 quarterback.

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders
Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell (left) and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah react during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Adofo-Mensah thus has the opportunity to shepherd his team into a new strategy. Or, at least, a new strategy for the Vikings: a quarterback chosen in the opening ten selections.

Kirk Cousins’ departure opens a lot of uncertainty at the position whereas the trio of Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall leave much skepticism. The solution most foresee is an opening-round passer.

The 2024 NFL Draft begins tonight at 7:00 CT in Detroit, Michigan.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.

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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.

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